Overview

Abstract (English)

The aim of this thesis was to better understand the development of mothers’ warm parenting (WP) towards their children, and their children’s physical aggression (PA) during the preschool years. It comprises two articles that pursued three objectives: (a) describe developmental trajectories of WP and PA; (b) describe the association between these two developmental trajectories; (c) identify early predictors of the trajectories. A large representative sample of Canadian children was used. All data were obtained from mothers during home interviews by Statistics Canada interviewers. In the first study, WP trajectories were modeled based on data obtained at four measurement points (when children were aged between 0-11 months, 24-35 months, 48-59 months and 72-83 months) with a short version of the Parent Practices Scale (Strayhorn & Weidman, 1988). In the second study, PA trajectories were modeled based on data obtained at three measurement points (when children were aged between 24-35 months, 48-59 months, and 72-83 months) with a PA scale (Broidy et al., 2003; Cote, Vaillancourt, Leblanc, Nagin, & Tremblay, 2006; Tremblay et al., 2004). Then, trajectories of WP and PA were combined to identify developmental categories of mother-child dyads. Predictors of trajectory groups were selected from mothers’ responses when children were between 0-11 months of age, namely: sex of the child, his temperament, mother’s age at birth of first child, mother’s depressive symptoms, mother’s perception of social support received, mother’s education, presence of an older sibling, family functioning, family income and family status. Results showed that 61% of mothers were on a moderate WP trajectory, 25% followed a high trajectory and 14% followed a low trajectory with drastic decline between 24-35 and 48-59 months. Predictors of mothers on the low trajectory were: presence of an older sibling, mothers who perceived family dysfunction, who did not have a high school diploma and who received poor social support. Results showed that 58% of children followed a moderate PA trajectory, 35% followed a low trajectory and 7% followed a high trajectory. The combination of PA and WP trajectories led to nine categories of mother-child dyads. Three variables measured before 12 months of age predicted the nine categories of trajectories: sex of the child, presence of an older sibling and family dysfunction. These results showed: (a) that frequency of WP and child PA during early childhood varies substantially with age of the child; (b) that there is a negative association between the trajectories of WP and child PA; (c) that it is possible to identify, early after birth, mothers susceptible to display low levels of WP during the preschool-years. The results also suggest that preventive activities concerning WP should be pursued beyond the first two years of the child’s life because the period between 24-35 and 48-59 months seems to represent the biggest challenge, especially for at-risk mothers.

Abstract (French)

The aim of this thesis was to better understand the development of mothers’ warm parenting (WP) towards their children, and their children’s physical aggression (PA) during the preschool years. It comprises two articles that pursued three objectives: (a) describe developmental trajectories of WP and PA; (b) describe the association between these two developmental trajectories; (c) identify early predictors of the trajectories. A large representative sample of Canadian children was used. All data were obtained from mothers during home interviews by Statistics Canada interviewers. In the first study, WP trajectories were modeled based on data obtained at four measurement points (when children were aged between 0-11 months, 24-35 months, 48-59 months and 72-83 months) with a short version of the Parent Practices Scale (Strayhorn & Weidman, 1988). In the second study, PA trajectories were modeled based on data obtained at three measurement points (when children were aged between 24-35 months, 48-59 months, and 72-83 months) with a PA scale (Broidy et al., 2003; Cote, Vaillancourt, Leblanc, Nagin, & Tremblay, 2006; Tremblay et al., 2004). Then, trajectories of WP and PA were combined to identify developmental categories of mother-child dyads. Predictors of trajectory groups were selected from mothers’ responses when children were between 0-11 months of age, namely: sex of the child, his temperament, mother’s age at birth of first child, mother’s depressive symptoms, mother’s perception of social support received, mother’s education, presence of an older sibling, family functioning, family income and family status. Results showed that 61% of mothers were on a moderate WP trajectory, 25% followed a high trajectory and 14% followed a low trajectory with drastic decline between 24-35 and 48-59 months. Predictors of mothers on the low trajectory were: presence of an older sibling, mothers who perceived family dysfunction, who did not have a high school diploma and who received poor social support. Results showed that 58% of children followed a moderate PA trajectory, 35% followed a low trajectory and 7% followed a high trajectory. The combination of PA and WP trajectories led to nine categories of mother-child dyads. Three variables measured before 12 months of age predicted the nine categories of trajectories: sex of the child, presence of an older sibling and family dysfunction. These results showed: (a) that frequency of WP and child PA during early childhood varies substantially with age of the child; (b) that there is a negative association between the trajectories of WP and child PA; (c) that it is possible to identify, early after birth, mothers susceptible to display low levels of WP during the preschool-years. The results also suggest that preventive activities concerning WP should be pursued beyond the first two years of the child’s life because the period between 24-35 and 48-59 months seems to represent the biggest challenge, especially for at-risk mothers.